FA Cup glory? Take it back...(to the lane)
Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 10:40PM Fulham 0 Spurs 0
Not exactly your quintessential cup tie that. For all the talk about squad depletion and recalling of yoof players to make up the numbers, our starting line-up wasn't too shabby. Defoe on the bench, but the switch on the left-side (BAE slotting into left-back and Bale into left-midfield) was something I was keen to see and Modric in the middle is something that's always up for discussion - can it work? Crouch upfront with Pav and Niko on the right. Regardless of the kids on the bench keeping JD company, it's a line-up good enough to beat Fulham, or at least make the effort to do so.
So, how did this game end 0-0? Simply put, because it wasn't very good. There were moments for both sides. We dominated possession but Fulham had the shots on target. Palacios marshalled the midfield but Modric struggled to dictate or find the time to hurt the opposition. Perhaps this wasn't the perfect stage for him to play central, but then Harry was forced to do so thanks to our bare bone crisis. Had we another CM capable of fulfilling the role then perhaps Modric starting out on the left would have allowed him to roam, dink and cut inside in that wonderfully jinxing manner we love to watch. His passing was a little off-key too. Not the best of days. But perhaps not the best of pitches (although no excuse, he worked his magic up at Wigan a few weeks back).
First half was congested, untidy. No real FA Cup magic to behold, in fact no real evidence of this being an FA Cup tie full stop. Second half, better, but frustrating. For all the ball at our feet and defending when called upon to do so there was still moments when Zamora and company threatened. The threat thankfully always ended with a sigh of relief. Fulham not really causing us anything more than half a missed heart-beat. But you know how it is, we dominate, they break, they score and we rage. You could almost see it happening, compounded with what smelt like ominous irony (smells like sick) mainly because we lacked cutting edge up front. This game was made for the sucker-punch.
I guess with Fulham playing so deep and defensive, there wasn't enough about them to make us that nervous. Not really.
As for us; cutting edge, the lack of. How you haunt me week after week. I'm actually not going to knee-jerk and perhaps the more astute amongst you will reason why the Pav/Crouch combo failed to ignite today. IMO, it failed because it was just one of those games. I love the word 'fragmented' (to be copyrighted). And today it just felt like our forwards were snuffed out of it by the resolute tenacity of the Fulham defenders and the tactics of Hodgson. It was all a bit too fragmented.
I think Roy was quite clever. If this was a traditional cup tie and had Fulham gone out and attempted to give it some proper gallivanting play, we'd had beaten them. We have the better footballers. And they lacked the presence of a Murphy in the middle to make them truly tick creatively. So what Roy did (the git) was have his players work their socks off. And their more direct play pushing forward (not talking long ball but speed of attack) allowed them the opportunities to test us, so from their perspective they could contain us and counter. Good tactics.
The problem we had in countering this, is one open for debate. Pav didn't really have any goal-sniffing opps that he thrives off. No 'one second' to think moments. He disappeared in some of the build up play, sometimes struggling to bring the ball under control quickly. Could he have dug deeper? Can he dig deeper? Is it the right game to knee-jerk on his performance? No. Let this one be. Watch the difference in the replay. Although if a play fails to find another way into a game and a trend develops, we have a problem. Said player can only play effectively if the game suits him (Darren Bent anyone?)
Crouch was okay. Felt at times that we didn't really use him properly. Crossing was not great and there seemed to be the usual confusion with when exactly to aim for his head and when to play the ball forward to his feet. Towards the end (when JD came on for Pav) someone (sorry, forgot who) pumped the ball up to Defoe. I mean seriously, Crouch has gone off and we're still pumping it up forwards. This time to a midget. Giving him 60/40 against him to win it. Bit of common sense sometimes let's us down. I know this isn't exactly criminal, but sometimes a little bit more intelligence is required - especially in the final moments of a game.
edit: Crouch was in fact still on the pitch. Slight balls up there in my reporting. Soz. Evidently, one too many beers it would seem. I guess you might argue that even though he had not been subbed, he was invisible. Boom boom.
I'll add this - there were moments in the game when players made mistakes when a LEADER was blatantly required to shout at them. Sometimes it looks like discrepancies are accepted.
Perhaps its time for a new directive. Play the ball on the ground unless you're passing the ball up the field to someone's feet. There is a time and place to play the knock down via Crouch. But anyways, if we haven't worked it out yet, I can't see us working it out any time soon. It's what births the questions about how Crouch is more successful for England than he is for Spurs - and if its because Crouch is an out and out striker for England - then it means we've got the wrong player up front to aid the Spurs 'out and out' forward.
Moving on.
Bale was stupendous to watch. Powerful and silky. Our best creative outlet, but alas not enough on the day to craft out a chance. No fault of his. He had plenty of success but cut backs were limited. Gomes, confident in goal, helped as survive any potentially heart in mouth moments. In the end, tbh, I'm happy with the result. Neither side deserved to win it and had, let's say Fulham nicked it, I'd have been furious for what was such a lacklustre game to have allowed a winner to head towards Wembley for the semi-final. Mainly because I'd have looked at our players and questioned their belief and determination to force the issue and score. Losing games of this manner is far more frustrating then losing a ding dong cup tie.
Corluka almost scoring an own-goal and earlier in the game, BAE attempting to be smart in the box and losing the ball - two moments that had me screaming out WTF expletives. Crouchies header and Pav's attempted over-head kick not enough.
Far from over, mind. But Fulham have a mental fixture list in the next few weeks, so as long as we can recover some of our walking wounded and get through our games without any further damage - we should...should be able to get the right result at WHL (Wed 24th).
As important as 4th is, the FA Cup is something I'm desperate for us to win again. Been too long.
Reader Comments (28)
Nice one spooky. A lot of good points here. I too am happy with the result. Don't think we deserved any more than a draw today and we'll finish em at the Lane.
Poor tactics from Hodgson. They didn't work in the league game so he could not think they would work here
Fair assessment of the game. Has anyone seen that Irish times report? It sounds like Fulham were on top and Spurs were lucky! I don't know what match they were watching! I have always said that Modric shouldn't play centre midfield in a pair, but I think he did ok. However I think that was more to do with Fulham sitting back a little - and were missing Murphy. Modric was more disciplined than I thought he would be, but then he became a bit stifled as a result. Similarly with Bale - with him in Midfield, it allowed Fulham to double team him. When Modric on left midfield ahead of him, then the opposition can't do that. Alas, our hands are tied - and it seemed like a decent line up due to injuries. I would like us to try and find a way of playing Modric on left again, Bale at left back. It may require a youngster, but with Palacios being immense we could handle that.
Thing is anon, they are negative tactics played out on the risk (from their perspective) that they would carve out one goal, which, let's face it, would have been enough.
Spurs were there for the taking. We never like playing Fulham, and we had to re-arrange our team to accomdate injuries across our midfield. Fulham really did not want an extra fixture, and should have gone all out to beat us. If they lose, so what? They will be playing Juventus in Europe. Nothing to lose in my opinion. Too late now, and I think we'll beat them.
Crouch has gone off and we're still pumping it up forwards- No spooky Crouch was still there. But a good article. I agree with Tony Tott. Modric on the left with Bale at LB and a youngster in there beside Palacious might have cracked them. I think 'Big Tom' will be back for the replay, hope he is or Jenas will be picked. Thought Palacious, Bale and Gomes stood tall and Bassong was brilliant too, up against Zamora.
no quote but would love it to be true
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Tottenham-star-Jermaine-Jenas-taking-Italian-lessons-to-prepare-for-summer-move-to-Inter-Milan-article347059.html
Jenas to milan for 8mil (just take him really, maybe throw in a pair boots at most). Supposedly he is learning italian
Cookie, cheers dude. Edited article :)
I think we should have started with Livermore in the centre with Wilson, Modders left wing and Bale left back. Defoe should have started with Crouch being the game changer/extra defender depending on the situation.
The above would have meant one change from last week's line up. The shuffling of players and positions was tantamount to at least three team changes today which seemed to disrupt the team from their form of late.
I know I keep banging on about this, but this long ball stuff is really not working. Whether they are Harry's tactics, or it's just the way the players play when Crouch is on the pitch is incidental; the worrying thing is that noone from the touch line sees this as a problem.
Today, Pav demonstrated exactly what Keane used to do; when starved of service he came deeper and deeper to try to get the ball. If Pav and Defoe had started, we would have won that game.
I also think that Bale needs to remain at left back over-lapping Modric. He seems to struggle to time his runs (although he was my man of the match today) when already alf way up the pich, and one of his strengths is to knock the ball past his opponent and beat him for pace. He can't do that when he only has 40 odd yards to run into.
BAE looked like the BAE of a couple of years ago, today. He'll need more minutes to get his touch back, but can he and Bale really play together? Both are naturally offensive players, but both seem uncertain of their games when they play together, almost as if they are unsure of wh should attack and who should cover.
Good luck to Stoke and Reading I say.
Good result under the circumstances. It was evident short of breath and ideas from Luka and Niko (both played vs Belgians few days ago). Also, It was a bit frustrating to see Zamora getting and controlling with ease every single ball hit in his direction and then spraying them left or right to start new buildup. Dawson was King. Rose should have got at least 30 mins so we could spread Fulham from flank to flank rather than trying to outplay then through a narrow path of pitch.
2 b honest crouch wasnt bad 2day and i cant stand him, but the point is when he plays we hoof it big time and that has never been the tottenham way. as 4 wilson he was outstanding 2day as was bale 4 the first hour. modric on the other hand didnt play well till the final 15minutes and it proves how much we miss hudd as he is on a different level 2 anyone when it comes 2 passing. all in all we should be favourites 4 the replay COYS
Well BAE and Bale experiment didn't work, but still the team was good enough to win. A team that misses the 48 year old Mirphy can't be that good can it? That overhead kick from Pav should've gone in. Also Palacios picked their pockets all day
Do we know how long Hudd is out for?
SpursLA: "Well BAE and Bale experiment didn't work"
I thought Bale was outstanding! BAE looked vunerable, uncertain and out of form, but having been out of the side injured perhaps that's to be expected, if not accepted. Had BAE been more solid defensively, I think that the combination of the two would have worked far more obviously; Bale's breaks down the left were perhaps, in the second half at least, our most threatening opportunities. I also think Nico deserves a shout for his recent, committed performances, demonstrating that he and Modric can indeed play in the same side together and that with them both involved, we look a far more attacking outfit. That Modric didn't have enough of the game was down in part to Fulham's close marking of him; we talk about Hodgeson's tactics but Fulham played like the away side and it's no science to ask your boys to sit on top players. Eventually, that we've got more quality throughout the side will tell, and if that means another replay at WHL with home support on our side, then thats what it takes. We all knew a London derby would be a fiesty, close fought affair and I thought our away support were glorious, out singing Fulham on several occassions. Hopefully, the Juventus games will distract Fulham even further and we'll outclass them thoroughly at the Lane
Not too displeased with the results all things considered. Will have to tear them a new now in the replay.
think this game showed that there is actually a really hard centre to spurs this season. lots of resilience on show, Corluka had a poor game, but the other 3 at the back and Gomes were really comitted and good. BAE a little shaky but he did a lot of good too. He's actually a superb player, and with a bit more experience he'll keep improving and be a really world class full back. Of course, what ppl didnt expect was that bale would be less effective going forward playing on the wing than at full back! But he had less space and was up against a full back and didnt have someone in front of him to distract the defenders. maybe should consider playing BAE at left mid and bale at FB....ill leave that one up to harry.
Dawson deserves credit as well, hes improved in the last few weeks. glad harry ditched the instructions for him to punt it all the time. Shame though that harry had apparently told him and bassong that they werent allowed to tackle Zamora. But they played him well and kept fulham at arms length all day.
wilson was great, really took on the extra responsibility with tom out. Modric needs a lot of practice if hes to be a viable long term replacement for tom. Dawson tried to pass it instead of lumping it but modric did him no favours, wasnt really crying out for the ball from the CBs like tom does. And modric's vision from that deep midfield role needs a lot of work. I suppose we are seeing actually how difficult the jobs huddlestone performs are. the problem is he has that style of making it all look really easy, but in fact its not, it takes a lot of skill and a lot of footballing brainpower to play that deep lying quarterback/point guard role. Modric battled well and of course has the touch but he didnt have the know how to really run the game from that part of the pitch. But a good solid effort from spurs, fulham will kick themselves for not going for it, they only really threw players forwad in the last 4 mins!
MattyK, I meant playing Bale in front of BAE didn't work .Bale needs more space infront of him for his runs and with BAE behind him he had half the space therefore his runs not as good as recent games. I have no doubt BAE was rusty and will get better but Think Bale and Modrich works better.
I agree with SpursLA that the combo of BAE @ LB and Bale @ LM didn't work too well yesterday. I also doubt if they were switched around the formula will work either. The best thing is to play one or the other at LB and stick Modric at LM once Tom returns.
This result will confirm us just a cup side I'm afraid. The extra fixtures will cost us in the league and almost certainly deny us 4th place. So I'm not celebrating right now and won't unless we win the final which is still a way off. Even then achieving 4th would be the far greater achievement whereas a cup win is just a bonus. That certainly can't be taken for granted either.
Got the best draw we could hope for and no reason why we should not make the final.
Interested to see Fulham try to double team Bale with Duff and their right back ( name escapes me) but this prevented Duff getting forward.
When we get Lennon back will these sides double team him as well ? If so, should leave us acres of central areas of the pitch to exploit.
I would not give up on the experiment of playing Bale at LM just yet. He has plenty of time to learn and improve in that position and if it does not work out, he can revert to terrorising the opposition from LB.
Thought Zamora looked like the best centre forward on the pitch yesterday which is worrying!
Agreed about Zamora; for all the lack lustre finishing back in his Spurs days, he was at the hub of all things good about Fulham on Saturday. Duff, on the other hand, looked very far removed from the bright young thing who dazzled in his Blackburn days before a big money move to the capital stripped him of form and confidence. Reminds me of a lad on our books somewhere too...!
Portsmouth in the next round should be substantial motivation for Harry and our lads; Defoe, Crouch, Kranjčar & Kaboul Vs the boy O'Hara, Kevin Prince Boatang, Michael Brown & Ricardo Rocha.
I know where my money is.
Can O'Hara play against us if we make it thru?
Doubt it. Can't play against your parent team.
Spooky, I think your observation that "Crossing was not great" is an understatement. Even the set plays from corners were horrendous - all low line drives that didn't even clear the near post. This is a very big problem. Bale in particular did very well to win lots of corners, but Spurs failed to threaten with any of them. Kranjcar looked awful taking them, and with Crouch playing up front those were really wasted opportunities. But the brief moment of happiness upon winning a corner faded quickly into disappointment with the team running back to defend after giving it away so many times.
I really think corners and set plays could've been the difference-maker, since there wasn't much created from open play. Can't blame crappy corners on a poor pitch either.
What a load of crap. This was Fulham at home. What did you expect, a cake walk, 4 nil Spurs? Brand new line up in the midfield, BAE back from injury. Bale in the left midfield position. I think we did great considring. Modric played very well covering space and passed relitively well. We can't expect him to get into the same advanced positions as he does from the left ,but he didn't do any less than Hudd does.
Wasn't really complaining though, was I?
i'm delighted with 0-0. they've got loads of fixtures piling up and we made them look very ordinary in the lague game at WHL. They of course will be very motivated to get through to a highly winable semi against pompey but then so should we. I thought although we didn't create much we were at least tight at the back and kept possession quite well. I do agree though that we are woeful at attacking set pieces. Something has to be done about this. We've now got two wing wizrds in bale and lennon who are great at hitting the byline and winning corners. We NEED to work out how to score from them soon.